Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Purpose & Values
The drive for innovation and continuous improvement is at the heart of our purpose
Business Strategy
Climate change is at the heart of our business strategy
Innovation
Finding better ways to do things is in our DNA
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Tailings
Details of our tailings facilities can be found on our interactive tailings disclosure map
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Acquisition of Arcadium Lithium
Bringing our scale, development capabilities and financial strength to the Arcadium Lithium portfolio
Get the latest news, stories and updates
Things you can't live without
Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
The 'f' word of innovation
How unlocking innovation requires a change of mindset
Reducing titanium oxide's carbon footprint
Our BlueSmelting technology could drastically reduce carbon emissions during ore processing
Discover more about life at Rio Tinto
Graduates and students
If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it
Empowering families with flexibility
Supporting new parents of any gender with equal access to parental leave
Available jobs
Join our team
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) Quebec Operations have been processing ore from northern Quebec for more than 70 years. They are a world leading producer of high-grade titanium dioxide feedstock, a product commonly used as a pigment to whiten a range of products such as paint, textiles and paper. They also produce iron and steel used in specialised applications such as the automotive industry and wind turbines.
Established in Sorel-Tracy since 1950, Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec Operations is a leading manufacturer of feedstocks for the titanium dioxide markets, supplying 19% of global demand. We’re the world leader in the production of high-purity metal powders and pig iron and are currently commissioning the first scandium plant in North America—and the first green scandium plant in the world.
Our mission : As a proud and engaged team, we work together to safely deliver innovative, sustainable, green solutions to our customers and the world by getting the most out of our mines and operating the world’s largest Critical Minerals and Metallurgical Complex.
Throughout its history, RTIT Quebec Operations has always improved its processes. After first pioneering a new technique for processing ilmenite, we took on the challenge of diversifying our product line as RTIT targeted the metal powder and steel markets.
Several technological breakthroughs then sharpened the competitive edge of our products. In the 1990s and early 2000s, we focused on developing, marketing, and fine-tuning the UGS process, which produces slag with a very high titanium dioxide content. By developing UGS™, an enriched titanium slag sold to pigment producers that use the chloride process, and RTCS (Rio Tinto chloride slag), a slag made from Madagascar mineral sand, RTIT Quebec Operations secured a strong position in a flourishing market. Over the last decade, we’ve continued to diversify our products with the introduction of RTCS-A™ titanium slag, the development of new steel powders for additive manufacturing (3D printing), and the production of scandium oxide from a tailings stream.
In 2022, RTIT Quebec Operations became the first North American producer of scandium, a critical mineral used in solid oxide fuel cells and aluminium alloys. Rio Tinto now plans to quadruple its production capacity from the current nameplate capacity of 4 tonnes to up to 12 tonnes of scandium oxide per year.
RTIT Quebec Operations is looking for better ways to decarbonise its operations, with the aim of achieving a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050.
In partnership with the Government of Canada, Rio Tinto has pledged to invest up to C$733 million by 2030 to decarbonise its operations in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, and position Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec Operations as a centre of excellence for critical minerals processing.
Scientists at the Critical Minerals and Technology Centre in Sorel-Tracy have pioneered BlueSmelting™, an innovative technology that involves the pre-reduction of ilmenite ore before it is processed in the reduction furnaces. By integrating BlueSmelting™ into our process, we could reduce the amount of energy required to transform the ore by using green hydrogen, among other sources, as a reducing agent.
RTIT Quebec Operations was founded on research and development (R&D), and R&D continue to drive our growth strategy today. The addition of a Technology Centre in 1967 underlined the strategic role that R&D plays at RTIT. The Centre’s mission is to improve our processes, thereby expanding our markets and enhancing the value of our products. Having a team of specialists in a wide range of science and technology fields who provide cutting-edge services and support to RTIT Quebec Operations, Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM), and RTIT customers is our biggest strength.
Today, RTIT Quebec Operations is among the 100 most active companies in research and development in Canada.
Research has an impact on all areas of activity at RTIT, from mining to finished products. The research process is one of constant synergy between research staff and production operations personnel, with all research conducted on site. The Critical Minerals and Technology Centre boasts state-of-the-art equipment and highly specialised instruments, including reactors and other equipment to simulate our processes at the laboratory and pilot levels, as well as inductively coupled plasma spectrometers, X-ray spectrometers, atomic absorption units, gas and image analysers, scanning electron microscopes, and a 3D printer for metals.
RTIT Quebec Operations were founded on research and development and they continue to drive our growth strategy. The founding of our Critical Minerals and Technology Centre in 1967 underlined the strategic role that research and development plays and their mission is to develop and improve processes and build the value of our products to expand our markets. Our team of specialists in a wide range of fields of science and technology is a key strength for our business. Today, RTIT Quebec Operations are among the 100 most active Canadian companies in research and development.
Research has an impact on all areas of activity at our RTIT Quebec Operations, from mining to the finished products. Strong links between research staff and operations personnel guarantee the continual improvement of our processes. Whether at the laboratory, the pilot plant or the production facilities, all research is conducted on site. The Critical Minerals and Technology Centre features state-of-the-art equipment and highly specialised instruments, such as inductively coupled plasma spectrometers, X-ray spectrometers, atomic absorption units, image analysers and scanning electron microscopes.
The largest solid ilmenite deposit in the world sits 43 kilometres from Havre-Saint-Pierre. There, Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec Operations operates the largest open‑pit mine in Quebec.
The mine is notable not only for its size but also for the quality of the ore extracted there. The mined ilmenite is crushed on site and transported by railcar to the port terminal, then sent by ore carrier to the Critical Minerals and Metallurgical Complex.
It is 880 km by boat from Havre-Saint-Pierre to Sorel-Tracy.
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec Operations is a city within a city. More than 1,450 people work at our Critical Minerals and Metallurgical Complex in Sorel-Tracy, at 7 different facilities: the reduction furnaces, the enrichment plant, the steel plant, the powder plant, the USG plant, the SO2 recovery plant, and the scandium plant. In total, the Critical Minerals and Metallurgical Complex covers an area equivalent to 100 football fields.
Water is crucial to our operations, and most of it is pumped from the St. Lawrence River. We use water for a variety of purposes, including various processes and cooling operations in our facilities. RTIT recycles and reuses part of that water internally to reduce water consumption at the source. All the water we use, as well as most rainwater, is treated at our water treatment plant before being discharged back into the river.
As our facilities are located in urban environments, minimising the impact of our operations on the air quality of nearby communities is a priority. This includes monitoring emissions at the source and using a range of equipment to assess air quality at our facilities and in the community.
We care about our communities and look for ways to minimise our footprint and show our commitment to the environment. For example, we installed acoustic walls and silencers to mitigate potential noise pollution that could affect residents in the nearby towns of Saint-Joseph-de-Sorel and Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola. We carry out annual assessments of noise levels from various sources and take corrective action where necessary. Noise levels in the communities are also continuously monitored by 2 noise‑measuring stations.
THURSO, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto and Aymium have formed a new joint venture named Évolys Québec Inc. to manufacture a renewable metallurgical biocarbon product to reduce carbon emissions in large scale industrial processes. This biocarbon, sourced from biomass residues, offers an alternative for anthracite currently used in ilmenite smelting processes at Rio Tinto’s metallurgical co
SOREL-TRACY, Canada - Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) has started its BlueSmeltingTM demonstration plant at its metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy as part of the process to validate the BlueSmeltingTM technology, which aims to decarbonise RTIT's Quebec Operations. The BlueSmeltingTM project involves an ilmenite reduction technology that could generate 95% less greenhouse gas emissi
MONTREAL, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto is partnering with the Government of Canada to invest up to C$737 million (US$537 million) over the next eight years to decarbonise its Rio Tinto Fer et Titane (RTFT) operations in Sorel-Tracy, Québec, and to position the business as a centre of excellence for critical minerals processing. The partnership will support technological innovations tha
1625, Marie-Victorin Road Sorel-Tracy Quebec J3R 1M6 Canada
E: RTIT Enquiries T: +1 450 746 3000
951, de l’Escale Road Havre-Saint-Pierre Quebec G0G 1P0 Canada
T: +1 418 538 2400
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With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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